WHEN PERFORMING AN ANALYSIS OF AN ARGUMENT, IT IS HELPFUL TO KNOW THE ELEMENTS THAT ENABLE A WRITER TO EFFECTIVELY PRESENT AND SUPPORT A CLAIM.

Elements of Argumentation

Claim

A debatable or controversial statement the speaker or writer intends to prove with evidence “Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has

established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.”

• PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

Call To Action

A request or petition by the writer to move the reader to take action on an issue “Give every child you cherish good books-human

stories- at every conceivable opportunity. If they fail to read them, offer bribes- or whatever other legal means- to help them grow their own imaginations in the slow solitude and silence that makes for general sanity.”

• REYNOLDS PRICE

Concession

A respectful acknowledgment of an opposing viewpoint by recognizing and fairly summarizing an opposing

viewpoint, the writer or speaker is seen as logical and fair-minded. “Although most students try to keep up their

grades, there is a minority of undergraduates for whom pursuing knowledge is the top priority during their years at Harvard.”

• LEONID FRIDMAN

Counterargument

Follows a concession and strongly counters or refutes the oppositions’ evidence

““Although most students try to keep up their grades, there is a minority of undergraduates for whom pursuing knowledge is the top priority during their years at Harvard.”

• LEONID FRIDMAN

Qualifier

Word or phrase that limits the claim, such as usually, sometimes, in many cases, etc.

“Many students are ashamed to admit, even to their friends, how much they study.”

• LEONID FRIDMAN

Rebuttal

Showing the opposing argument to be weak or wrong

“Because I live 20 miles north of Dallas, my commute requires me to take the busiest of all freeways to work. With the additional construction that began during this month, my route has been restricted from four lanes to two lanes, causing additional delays... leaving earlier is not an option.”

Unspoken Assumption

The writer’s belief about the attitudes, values, or knowledge possessed by readers or the audience What does the writer assume the audience will know

or believe? “The epidemic of adolescent obesity is more complicated

than having the willpower to turn down french fries or ice cream; abundant ads targeting children…”

The unspoken assumption is that society actually cares that children are obese.